Members of the Hamanasi Green Team took time out of their busy schedules to attend this year’s annual Cacao Chocolate festival. It was a 3 day event and the finale took place at the central plaza of Lubaantun San Pedro Columbia in Toledo district on May 26th, 2013. The participants were: Juan Tun, Chalita Salam, Suzet Matute, Chris Che, Martin Carr, Therese Roches, Jackie Gamboa, Audrey MaCaulay (cashier) and Francine Matute (organizer).

Our Green Team love to get out there and create awareness about our environment. They set up a stall bursting with information about Lionfish and the threat that it has on the reef, Hamanasi organic gardening, Composting, Vermin-culture and of course they are always handy with some green tips.

Prizes were given out to all the people that visited and participated with answering specific eco-friendly questions. There was Lionfish ceviche and coconut water for sale. They had a very successful day.

On behalf of Hamanasi Staff and Management, we want to thank everyone that visited us for the month of April 2013. We hope that you all have a great vacation experience with us and we can’t wait to have you back!

“Everyone was great, excellent customer service!”

Robin and Gus Barker, Centralia, WA

“The service standards you are at are fantastic and a great credit to everybody involved.”

Michael and Cara Veale, Hamilton, Bermuda

“Everyone was awesome! I don’t think out lives could have been made any easier during our stay. Kudos!”

Amy Schwambach and Mike Franqui, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

“Your staff is exceptional. All were helpful, friendly and very personable. They have wonderful customer service skills.”

Glenn and Pam Seiler, Alameda, CA

“This was easily the best vacation I’ve ever been on!”

Kiera Quinlan and Elisa Apostle, Tacoma, WA

“I don’t see how you can improve on perfection.”

Bonnie Reeves, Hermosa Beach, CA

“We had a great experience with everyone. As nice as the place is the best part of our stay was the staff!”

• Season lamb with salt, cayenne pepper, jerk seasoning and garlic powder right before putting them in the very hot deep pot coated with on the inside with canola oil.

• Once lamb caramelizes on both sides cover with water, add in tomato sauce and cover. Cook for at least a minimum of 2 hours or until liquid reduces exposing half of the lamb and make sure lamb is tender. Add more water if needed.

• Check flavor and add in more salt if needed.

• In a small frying pan add in 5 tbsp of butter and equal parts flour to make a roux which you will use to thicken the lamb gravy.

• Remove the lamb from the gravy then add in the roux piece by piece to thicken the gravy to the consistency you prefer.

• Place the lamb back in the gravy once the consistency is to your choice.

• Serve with your choice of sides, Happy cookings from the Hamanasi kitchen!

The Hamanasi Green Team participated at the Holy family School Fair March 2013. This energetic team had 1 goal in mind, to create as much awareness about our environment and the impact we have on it, and to achieve this they set out to impart their knowledge to the local Hopkins residents.

They had a fresh supply of Lion Fish Ceviche for sale – and gave out interesting facts of what damage this fish does to our reef system and how we can help by eliminating or at least decreasing the numbers. Less than 20% of residents did not know that lion fish is edible and so tasty!

Fresh produce like lettuce, bok choy, cabbage and herbs from Hamanasi’s organic garden were on display and the team encouraged the benefits of backyard gardening and composting.

They also talked about the goals of each department within Hamanasi Resort and all the eco-friendly products that are used at the Resort.

The team also had lots of fun giving out some Prizes; all you had to do was answer an easy question to win a Hamanasi t-shirt, water bottles or a lunch voucher for the restaurant. 100 coconuts plants were given away to be planted. The feedback from the public was very positive and refreshing. Overall is was a successfully event for everyone

“Everyone was extremely helpful and kind. it was a pleasure to be around people who really like their jobs!

Julie Greer, Seattle, WA

“Just keep on doing all the special things you do – it was amazing how everyone knew our names; checked on us frequently and went the extra effort to accommodate us.”

Tom Strike and Family, Winnipeg, Canada

“I thought that among all luxury properties to where I’ve travelled, this had the best service I’ve experience.”

Michael and Donna Levy,

“We are Travel Agents and this was absolutely one of the best vacations ever!”

Rodney and Lisa George, Saint Louis, MO

“Unbelievable!!! So happy to see how everything is used to potential in the organic garden.”

Valerie and Patrick Harwood, Omaha, NE

“Service is the highlight of the resort!”

Wayne Parman and Jana Obrien, Oak Park, IL

“Everyone was so friendly and helpful during our stay. It’s one of the reasons we want to come back. Thank you for being and eco-friendly resort, this was an important part of choosing Hamanasi for us. Keep up the good work!”

Marie-Andree Lamando, Montreal, Canada

“The best vacation of my life, a true vacation. Best customer service I have ever received anywhere.”

Joe and Lynee Fornes, Greenville, NC

“You guys have it perfect!”

Brian Daugbjerg Family, Longview, TX

“You’ve already worked so hard to make this such an incredible place.”

Joshua and Anna Kollaja, Westminster, CO

“Not one way could our visit been more perfect! Our whole trip we felt life family. Every little request was met and with attention and speed we couldn’t hope to expect.”

Jesse and Whitney Hill, Bentonville, AR

“Service was impeccable from dining wait staff to diving/snorkeling staff to grounds personnel and tour guides. You understand service!”

Rose and Ronald Anderson, Renton, WA

“Everything and everybody was top-notch!”

Becky and Salomon Toelkes, Glenpool, OK

“Continue doing the quality of products/services currently provided. Customer service was top drawer, consistently. A wonderful place , very special trip!”

Pam Gibbes and Ray Smith, Fort Mill, SC

“This is the best service I have ever had!”

Lisa Rich and Family, Brookfield, WI

“You are doing a great job of hiring well and paying attention to detail! Keep it up.”

Wishing everyone a Happy and Prosperous 2013. A big “Thank you” to all our December 2012 guest! Thanks for coming and we hope you had a great time with us and we can’t wait to have you back soon! From the Hamanasi Team.

“The service was impeccable. Every staff person we encountered went out of their way to make this the best vacation.”

Deborah and Mark Buel, Gainesville, FL

“Love the attention to detail. Top notch – Perfect. This resort could teach service and hospitality to other!”

Zocher Family, Clyde Hill, WA

“Don’t expand too much. The small, community-like feeling of the resort is part of why it’s so great.”

John and Brenda Schulz, Hamburg, NY

“Everyone was special and gracious. Keep doing what you are – place is fantastic.”

Florence Sofer, Mount Kisco, NY

“Service was very, very good! Appreciated all of the personal attention.”

Tracy and Mike Killion, Humble, TX

“Amazing and very personalize service. Everyone made my stay very enjoyable.”

Mary Grabowsky, Albuquerque, NM

“It’s beautiful here! Don’t change a thing.”

Mike and Arletta Hitch, Rose Hill, AL

“Exceptional service, thank you all so much. We will be back many times, our wedding here was perfect.”

Omar and Shalane Rodriguez, Wichita, KS

“I always wondered what it would be like to be treated like royalty – now I know. Thank you for a wonderful vacation.”

Helen and Christine Hill, San Francisco, CA

“Everyone did what they could to help me solve problems and enjoy my stay – more than expected!”

Jim Mahoney, Greensboro, NC

“Service was exceptional. Value with the package was exceptional. We stayed inland for the first half of our vacation, it was nice but Hamanasi had them beat in every category! Great job!”

Thanks to our entire guest that visit us on October 2012. We hope that you all had an amazing Hamanasi experience! Below are some of the comments from guest that visited us during the month of October. We do hope to see each and every one of you again sometime in the near future. All the best from Hamanasi staff and Management.

“We’re happy that the eco friendly efforts is such a strong part of Hamanasi’s culture and that the guides stress it.”

Scott and Keri Agin, Chicago, IL

“The personal attention and hospitality of the entire staff was excellent. The food was first class. I am happy to see the commitment of the resort.”

Bobby and Paul Vargo, Lancaster, CA

“We can’t say enough about the wonderful atmosphere at Hamanasi. Please stay small! It makes it so much more welcoming. Your staff is what absolutely makes this place attractive. Very family feel here, totally pampered us. Thank you so much!”

Dorothy and Mike Ewenel, Ontario, Canada

“Everything was so wonderful! We loved every minute of our stay and are so sorry to leave. We had a wonderful and beautiful honeymoon. The staff is unbelievable! We will miss them.”

Shannon Atkins and Robert Schulenberg, Herndon, VA

“What a magical way to celebrate our 5 year anniversary. We’ll be back again for sure! Thank you Hamanasi and Hopkins for being such lovely hosts during our stay. ”

Allison and Wade Sisson, Knightdale, NC

“Keep doing what you are doing. First class place!”

Collin and Jenny Steward, Harlingen, TX

“We can’t imagine better service. The staff obviously happy and proud to be here, we want to take them home with us!”

The month of September was blessed with all the free clinics that the HBHS had for our animals from Hopkins, Dangriga, Silk Grass and Seine Bight. They started the week with the Carroll County Vets Without Borders team of Tina Cone, Ramona Hambrick, and Anita Beeson — Belize veterans all. The idea was to have a half day clinic on Sunday, just to get back in the groove, and not be too rushed. Ha! FORTY TWO dogs showed up between 1pm – 4pm, needing surgeries (7), treatments and check ups! Thank goodness we had plenty of help! Volunteers from Saga Humane Society (Heather Beck and Kathy Marin), Humane Society International, and our regular crew managed to make some sense out of the starting gun dash out of the gate.

Next, ten of them caravanned to Seine Bight on Monday morning, to partner with the Placencia Humane Society for a two day clinic. PHS had secured the brand new Seine Bight community center, and they were blessed with plenty of space! Over two days, Dr. Tina Cone and Dr. Orlando Baptist treated almost 100 animals. The collaboration between HBHS, PHS, Saga Humane, Humane Society International, Dr. Baptist and the Carroll County Vets Without Borders was magical. They returned to Hopkins for another busy half day clinic on Wednesday, seeing 33 animals, 12 of which were surgeries. Then on to Dangriga on Thursday, where they partnered with Dangriga Pet Care to treat EIGHTY FOUR animals between 8am and 4pm. They were working Dr. Cone all full capacity, when Dr. Kathy Kvam, arriving for her clinics the next week, stopped by having just arrived at the Dangrgiga airport… and jumped right into surgery. They were grateful she was such a trooper. Dr. Cone, having well earned a rest, then passed the baton to Dr. Kvam. Dr. Kvam and her team of Kerry O’Donoghue, Karin Mixon, Kevin Guyer and Tom McNeely then hosted 3.5 days of clinic in Hopkins, treating 98 animals, 50 spays and neuters and 4 other surgeries. IN TOTAL… Dr. Tina, Ramona, Anita and Dr. Kvam, Kerry, Karin, Kevin and Tom treated 376 animals, did 88 spays and neuters, and 10 other surgeries, including broken legs, tumor removal, exploratory surgeries and various wounds.

While we were closed in September for yearly renovations, Dive Master Shawn Lozano better known as “C-Dog” took time out of his vacation to go to Honduras and attend the PADI Instructor Development Course with Utila Divers. The course is run by Andy Phillips and it took two weeks to complete. It entailed long days of class and water works culminating in a two day exam which he sailed thru. C-Dog has now join the ranks of PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor and he is very enthusiastic for this coming season as a Hamanasi Instructor. He is looking forward to creating fantastic new divers and impart his knowledge of the marine environment with his new students. Hamanasi is very proud of his efforts and wishes him the best of luck!